聚乙烯塑料的微生物降解

聚乙烯(polyethylene,PE)是产量最大的通用塑料之一,通常被加工成一次性包装材料(包括塑料袋及容器)和农用薄膜等。PE塑料的广泛应用导致大量PE废弃物的累积,对生态环境造成严重的威胁。自20世纪70年代以来,一些研究陆续报道了PE塑料被微生物降解的现象,并从土壤、海洋、垃圾堆置点及昆虫肠道等生境中分离筛选到了若干种具有一定PE塑料降解能力的菌株,而且发现一些单加氧酶、过氧化物酶和漆酶等氧化还原酶对PE塑料具有氧化降解能力。这些研究为发展PE塑料废弃物生物降解处理技术提供了一定的依据。本文总结和分析了PE塑料降解微生物的分离和筛选方法,以及已报道的PE塑料降解微生物和降解酶的研究进展,以期为进一步研究PE塑料的微生物降解机理和处理技术提供参考。

Microbial degradation of polyethylene

Polyethylene (PE), one of the most widely used general plastics, is usually processed into disposable packaging materials (including plastic bags and containers) and agricultural mulch films. The widespread utilization of PE plastic products has resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of PE waste, posing a serious threat to the ecological environment. Since the 1970s, several studies show that PE plastic could be degraded by a few of microorganisms isolated from a diversity of niches such as soil, marine ecosystem, garbage dump and insect gut. Additionally, a number of oxidoreductases such as monooxygenase, peroxidase and laccase can oxidize PE plastic. These studies have paved the path for the development of bio-treatment of PE waste. This review summarizes the isolation and screening methods of PE-degrading microorganisms, as well as the reported PE-degrading microorganisms and enzymes. Further perspectives and challenges on the research on biodegradation of PE are also highlighted.